Bloggernacle Back Bench: The sister missionary experience

I thought it would be fun to check up on the influx of sister missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints going out into the field by spotlighting a bunch of blogs that highlight different stages of a sister missionary’s experience, beginning with

The decision: “You guys, I am going to serve a mission! I can't believe this is happening. I'm still in shock that I am able to right now. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and ready. But mostly excited! Something that I realized recently is the fact that I was (and still am) exactly 19 years old when President Monson announced that sister missionaries could serve when they are 19. I wasn't 18, I wasn't 20, but I was 19! I felt as though the prophet was giving me permission to go now instead of 3 years from now. Goodness, it still makes me tear up.” — soon-to-be Sister Cathy Fay

Submitting papers: “Dear internet, On January 1st, 2013 I submitted my papers to serve a mission for the church of Latter-day Saints. I could not be more thrilled with this decision! I’m very stoked to get my call and find out where I will be for 18 months. The call could be coming this Wednesday or the next. You’ll know when it happens. The whole world will know. I’m excited to find out, but I’m not nervous. Although I would love to serve somewhere German or Swedish speaking, I will be happy to go where the Lord wants me to go. I’ve already started searching for missionary clothes. My mom and I hit up 3 Desert Industries before finding any cute skirts. The thrifting life is not meant for everyone, it requires plenty of perseverance. When I get my call I will also get a list of things to buy, and then I will purchase more specific clothing. I look forward to showing you the outfits I put together. The requirements are very strict, but I always like a little style challenge. I hope this blog will inspire other prospective sister missionaries. I’m a firm believer you can look fashionable and preach the gospel! I plan to also have my letters posted here to keep everyone updated. First things first though, I need to get my call!” — soon-to-be Sister Lena Hezler (And click on the next blog post to see if she got her wish!)

Call opening: If you ever want something to brighten your day, just search “Opening mission call” on YouTube. I randomly picked this one from a few weeks back and smiled as everyone made their last guesses of Provo, England, Taiwan before this young emotional Sister Cartillo opened her mission call to you’ll have to click in to find out! OK, I can’t help it — here is another one: Sister Dando. Oh, and just one more: Sister Strickland.

Serving faithfully: I highlight many Mormon missionary blogs (which family members post their missionary's letters) because they represent amazing service and what’s going on with the church in many parts of the world, but I had never seen this sweet sister missionary blog out of Korea where she candidly discusses her adventures. And this sister in New York tells of a recent special sister missionary conference: “We had our Sister's Conference which was wonderful! All of the sisters in the mission, including senior sisters came together to hear from: the traveling sisters, the assistants to the president, and the mission president and his wife. Each one spoke on a different topic and left us with a lot to ponder and reflect.” Click in for more.

Power pick: “Dear Driver, This is not an accusatory letter. I know nothing about you, the status of your personality or character, what kind of state you were in when you were driving, or the degree of safety or speeds at which you were driving. I only know that it was your jeep that hydroplaned and came to a stop in the westbound lane right in front of my mother. I also have just found out that even though my mother died, you have survived.” Oh my, this “Open Letter to the Driver of the Jeep” is heart wrenching and beautiful and completely full of grace as a daughter uses her blog to publically offer forgiveness to someone who accidentally took the life of her mother just last week. Wow. Please read.